Hensel Phelps Construction Co.: The Irvine company...

Hensel Phelps Construction Co.: The Irvine company has won a $51-million contract to build a federal prison in Taft in southwestern Kern County, according to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

Hensel Phelps was the low bidder on a project that company spokesman Wayne Saxerud says may employ 300 people.

Saxerud said his company has 21 months to complete the prison. But the bureau first must negotiate to have gas and oil lines moved out of the way.

The prison is expected to house 2,000 minimum-security inmates.